The Sacramento Bee - The Oh Decade: Old water policies limit choices for future - We live in a fragile time and place. Californians started out in 1850 grossly abusing our water resources and we've never stopped. It took a nine-year severe drought in Australia to transform how that country manages water. It took the collapse of the apartheid regime in South Africa in the early 1990s to produce a new way of thinking about water rights, allocations and environmental protection. I hope we'll be smart enough to solve our problems before such extreme events occur, but the signs are not good. >> more

The Pueblo Chieftain - STRIKING A BARGAIN: With supply limited, state targets water demand - Here’s the choice: Colorado can dry up 400,000 acres of farmland, build a couple more pipelines through the Rockies or put 5 million new residents of the state - plus most already living here - on permanent watering restrictions or shower schedules. Why can’t Colorado use every drop of water that falls in the state? Here’s a look at interstate compacts that limit how much Colorado can use from each basin. >> more

Water Efficiency - Survey Finds Virtually All Building Professionals Concerned about Water Conservation - Looking ahead to what 2010 might bring, a new survey conducted the first two weeks of December 2009 asked facility managers and other building professionals about water conservation, water costs, and other related issues in their facilities in the coming year. Virtually all, 89 percent, indicate that, compared to past years, concerns about water conservation will increase in 2010. Over 70% believe water costs will go up 10 percent or more. >> more

LA Times - Turning on to rain, and turning off the tap, 55 gallons at a time - If L.A.'s rainwater harvesting program could put a barrel at each of the city's 800,000 residential parcels, demand for tap water could drop by about 800 million gallons a year. Add my 55 gallons, refilled a few times each winter, to what my neighbors are collecting and it starts to add up. The city estimates that the first 600 barrels could save 600,000 gallons of water annually. Put a barrel at each of the city's 800,000 residential parcels and demand for tap water could drop by about 800 million gallons.>> more

Sun Times - India’s quiet water revolution - The International Water Management Institute pointed to India. More than 66% of the total groundwater drawn in the world was exploited here. Water tables across the country had begun to shrink decades ago. By the mid-90s, when its population was close to hitting the billion mark, many parts were gravely plagued by scarcity The saviour? A simple concept called the check dam – a makeshift rainwater harvesting method >> more

European Water News - Experiences with Rainwater Harvesting & Greywater - Despite all the recent rains and the subsequent, numerous, flooding incidents which have occurred throughout the UK in recent years we have also experienced, often severe, drought conditions in some areas and even now it is suggested that water supplies are under either moderate or serious levels of stress in most of England south of the Humber, a situation that will be exacerbated by demands for additional housing, particularly in the south east of the country. It was clear from the day that there is a great deal of interest in RWH and GWR and these innovations will undoubtedly have a place in any integrated approach to water management with the correct development of valid, well thought out standards and guidelines, these techniques will surely become mainstream. >> more

APMO GTC finalizes green supplement - The International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials’ Green Technical Committee finalized the Green Plumbing & Mechanical Code Supplement at its meeting here in November. The Supplement is ready to be published and will be submitted for addition into the Uniform Plumbing Code and Uniform Mechanical Code in its entirety to the voluntary appendices. Some sections of the Green Supplement will be proposed to be adopted directly into the UPC and UMC. >> more

Green Fire Times - Santa Fe RWH Checklist - In October the City of Santa Fe implemented a Rainwater Catchment Permit Application Checklist in an effort to encourage rainwater harvesting as well as to improve the speed and ease of the permitting process. !e checklist applies to all residential rooftop rainwater harvesting systems with the exception of rainbarrels. !e checklist was created in response to the increasing interest in rainwater catchment by local businesses and individuals and the need to balance this demand with protection of the public water supply.>> more

Water World - Report focuses on role of water, rainwater harvesting in sustainable design - A new white paper on the role of water in the green building movement notes that the bulk of building projects in the U.S. miss out on one of the most potentially significant water conservation opportunities: rainwater catchment and reuse.The white paper reports that "82 percent of the total water consumed in the U.S. goes to irrigation" and that "the reuse of water may be the next big thing in water conservation, efficiency, and performance.">> more

The Arizona Republic - Paying for water with power - The Salt River Project is the largest water supplier in the region, delivering the state's most precious resource from the Salt and Verde rivers to people in the Valley. Some observers question the need to subsidize water, especially in a time of frequent electricity-rate increases. Also, they say, low prices encourage wasting water, and higher prices would prompt conservation. SRP General Manager Richard Silverman said that charging more for water deliveries would not encourage people to conserve water. >> more

The Daily Times - HGCD committee approves conservation plan- The education committee of the Headwaters Groundwater Conservation District voted to recommended passage of the 2010 Conservation Plan to the district’s board of directors. The district’s main goal with the plan will be education. Through newspaper articles, the organization’s Web site and other media, the district wants to encourage rainwater harvesting, conservation landscaping and other water saving techniques. >> more

EPA - EPA Issues Rule to Reduce Water Pollution from Construction Sites - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today issued a final rule to help reduce water pollution from construction sites. The agency believes this rule, which takes effect in February 2010 and will be phased in over four years, will significantly improve the quality of water nationwide. The final rule requires construction site owners and operators that disturb one or more acres to use best management practices to ensure that soil disturbed during construction activity does not pollute nearby water bodies. >> more

CleanTech Open - Cleantech Open announced the winning teams in the California region - Green Building: tru2earth makes the tru2earth Life Cycle Roof Tile — 50+ year-rated roofing materials made from recycled PET (water/soda bottle) plastic that are energy-efficient, and cradle-to-cradle recyclable. They allow for rainwater harvesting and, unlike other sustainable roofing materials, are price-competitive with asphalt shingles. >> more

EPA - EPA Cites 14 Municipalities For Stormwater Violations- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has cited 14 municipalities in Pennsylvania and Maryland for stormwater violations. Urbanized areas contain large portions of impervious surfaces such as roads, rooftops and parking lots that channel stormwater directly into local streams, rivers, and other water bodies. Improperly managed stormwater runoff from urbanized areas often contains high levels of nutrients, sediment, toxic metals, volatile organic compounds, and other pollutants. >> more

Water Efficiency - It's Raining Money - ”Shovel-ready” water projects, numbering in the hundreds, are getting underway all at once, thanks to Congress and a newly arrived Obama administration eager to shovel fiat money their way. As a key criterion for selecting projects, comes the stipulation that 20% (i.e. $1.2 billion) should not simply go to the usual water pipes or treatment plants, but rather, must be invested in what the Act calls high-priority “green infrastructure improvements” for water and/or energy efficiency, “and other environmental innovations and wet weather management. At the head of the list of these examples is the installation of water meters, followed by retrofit or replacement of water using fixtures, fittings, equipment, or appliances; efficient landscape or irrigation equipment; systems to recycle graywater; reclamation, recycling, and reuse of existing rainwater, condensate, degraded water, stormwater, and/or wastewater streams; and collection-system. >> more

The Explorer - Council OKs landscape code, includes Rainwater Harvesting - With a goal of keeping Oro Valley, Arizona green, or shades of desert browns and tans, the town council has approved a revamped landscape code. Another aspect of the revised plan mandates water-saving irrigation methods. The revisions require development projects to use rainwater harvesting, irrigation systems that regulate water by shutting off when it rains, and to establish annual water plans. >> more

Science Daily - Rainwater Is Safe To Drink, Australian Study Suggests - A new study by Monash University researchers into the health of families who drink rainwater has found that it is safe to drink. The study involved three hundred volunteer households in Adelaide that were given a filter to treat their rainwater. Only half of the filters were real while the rest were 'sham' filters that looked real but did not contain filters. The study was funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council and Water Quality Research Australia. >> more

San Diego Union-Tribune - Harvesting precious rainwater - Does that seem like a lot for a region that averages only 10 inches of precipitation a year? Even in semiarid areas, rainwater runoff is substantial. A commonly accepted calculation shows that one inch of rain falling on a 1,000-square-foot roof generates 600 gallons of collectible water. During a San Diego rainy season, that runoff alone is enough to fill a 3-foot-deep 16-by-20-foot pool. >> more

Sacramento Bee - California lawmakers pass historic water package - It took long months of delicate negotiations - and the last-minute deletion of a project dear to the heart of the state's most powerful legislator - for California lawmakers to craft what could turn out to be one of the most pivotal water deals in state history. They also include asking voters to approve - probably next November - an $11.1 billion bond measure that would pay for recycling, drought relief, water storage and wastewater treatment programs. >> more>> California Bill SBX 7 8

US Department of Interior - United States Using Less Water than 35 Years Ago - The United States is using less water than during the peak years of 1975 and 1980, according to water use estimates for 2005. Despite a 30 percent population increase during the past 25 years, overall water use has remained fairly stable according to a new U.S. Geological Survey report. The report shows that in 2005 Americans used 410 billion gallons per day, slightly less than in 2000. The declines are attributed to the increased use of more efficient irrigation systems and alternative technologies at power plants. Water withdrawals for public supply have increased steadily since 1950--when USGS began the series of five-year trend reports--along with the population that depends on these supplies. >> more

Arizona Daily Star - Foothills man retrofits home to use rainwater - Sygall, a local real estate agent and photographer, has spent the last three years and about $10,000 retrofitting his home in the foothills to minimize his carbon footprint. His most ambitious project is an intricate system of rainwater harvesting that typically collects about 28,000 gallons per year. >> more

Monitor Online - Conserving soil in the wake of climate change - An NGO in Rakai District, Uganda Rural Community Support Foundation Model Farm (URCSF) located at Kirumba in Kirumba Sub-county, has undertaken to teach climate change friendly farming methods to the local farmers at its model farm. Among tips offered to farmers in this part of the world, rain water harvesting, mulching, organic manure preparation, tree planting and terracing dominate the demonstrations at the 30-acre-plus model farm which provides its lessons free of charge. It is a seed multiplication centre for both food and fodder crops. >> more

October 2009

Examiner.com - Up on the roof tops- green and growing - Roof top gardens, eco roofs, vegetative roofs, living roofs, green roofs, however they are named they refer to the same phenomena; buildings with plants on the roof. As defined by the nonprofit, Green Roofs for Healthy Cities “A green roof system is an extension of the existing roof which involves a high quality water proofing and root repellant system, a drainage system, filter cloth, a lightweight growing medium and plants.”>> more

USGS - Chloride in Groundwater and Surface Water - Groundwater-quality data from a sampling of 1,329 wells in 19 states were analyzed. Chloride concentrations were greater than the secondary maximum contaminant level established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency of 250 milligrams per liter in 2.5 percent of samples from 797 shallow monitoring wells and in 1.7 percent of samples from 532 drinking-water supply wells. Water samples from shallow monitoring wells in urban areas had the largest concentration of chloride, followed by water samples from agricultural and forested area. >> more

The Pueblo Chieftain - Enough water? - Colorado may not have enough water to double its population. The underlying message of the meeting was that simply providing water to the new residents of the state native-born or transplants - won’t address all of the negative effects of taking the water from somewhere else. If it’s business as usual, Colorado could reach a point where lawns are uprooted, even more food imported and water use strictly limited. If oil shale plans develop, a significant portion of the state’s undeveloped water will go toward energy production, and simply won’t be available for future population growth. >> more

The Philadelphia Inquirer - Breaking ground with a $1.6 billion plan to tame water - This city has proposed tackling its combined-sewer overflow problems with a $1.6 billion, 20-year plan that would use rain gardens, green roofs, thousands of additional trees, rain-harvesting barrels and porous pavement. The green capture plan is being hailed as one of the most ambitious ideas to reduce combined sewer overflows and increase “green” living of a major metropolitan area. According to the plan, runoff is reduced, diverted or filtered by layers of soil and plant root systems. The Inquirer reported, “Some areas would temporarily store runoff until the stress of the storm on the combined sewer system is reduced and the water can then be treated in the sewer treatment plants.” >> more

September 2009

Water Efficiency - New Construction Permit Will Reduce Pollution, Conserve Precious Water - The State Water Board approved its new construction stormwater permit and is designed to protect waterways and conserve water. The Board’s vote is the first time California has limited storm water runoff pollution from construction sites by setting numeric limits. The permit is based on the approach that minimal requirements are needed for low-risk projects and become progressively more stringent for projects with a higher threat to water quality. It also identifies appropriate control requirements based on the risk of sediment pollution running off the site. Such low impact development features could include the planting of trees and vegetation, redirecting gutter-downspouts to planter beds, and the installation of rain barrels, green roofs and porous pavement.>> more

Washington Post - Water Measured From the Sky - Water management is serious business in the American West, where precipitation is scarce, irrigated agriculture is a major industry, new housing subdivisions spread across arid landscapes and water rights are allocated in a complicated seniority system. rWillardson said the system can allow irrigation districts or other entities to conserve water and save the surplus for drier times. For example, if Southern California's Imperial Valley irrigation district can prove that it used less water than it has rights to, it can use more water from the Colorado River the following year. In the past, Imperial Valley farmers would have had little incentive not to use their full water right. >> more

NRDC - A Clear Blue Future: How Greening California Cities Can Address Water Resources and Climate Challenges in the 21st Century - The NRDC and UCSB analysis found that implementing LID practices that emphasize rainwater harvesting, which includes infiltration of water into the ground as well as capture in rain barrels or cisterns for later use onsite, at new and redeveloped residential and commercial properties in the urbanized areas of southern California and limited portions of the San Francisco Bay area has the potential to increase local water supplies by up to 405,000 acre-feet (af) of water per year by 2030. This volume represents roughly two-thirds of the volume of water used by the entire City of Los Angeles each year. The water savings translate into electricity savings of up to 1,225,500 megawatt hours (MWh), avoiding the release of as much as 535,500 metric tons of CO2 per year>> more

Washington Post - America's Water Supply, Down the Drain - In the United States, we constantly fret about running out of oil. But we should be paying more attention to another limited natural resource: water. A water crisis is threatening many parts of the country -- not just the arid West. ”Droughts make matters worse, but the real problem isn't shrinking water levels. It's population growth. Conservation does work. In places such as San Antonio, Albuquerque, Tucson and Long Beach, Calif., aggressive conservation programs have reduced consumption dramatically. But it's not enough. >> more

CSIRO - Water scarcity started 15 years ago - New analysis shows that the water scarcity being experienced in southeast Australia started up to 15 years ago. ”The data shows the first signs of diminishing water availability in Australia appeared somewhere between 1993 and 1996 when the rate of water resource capture and use started to exceed the rate of streamflow supply,” Dr van Dijk said.>> more

Ecological Restoration - Why Climate Change Makes Riparian
Restoration More Important than Ever - Over the next century, climate change will dramatically alter natural resource management. Specifically, historical reference conditions may no longer serve as benchmarks for restoration, which may foster a “why bother?” attitude toward ecological restoration. We review the potential role for riparian restoration to prepare ecological systems for the threats posed by climate change. Riparian ecosystems are naturally resilient, provide linear habitat connectivity, link aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, and create thermal refugia for wildlife: all characteristics that can contribute to ecological adaptation to climate change. Because riparian systems and the projected impacts of climate change are highly variable geographically, there is a pressing need to develop a place-based understanding of climate change threats to riparian ecosystems.>> more

August 2009

Denver Post - Thirsty cities eye Wyoming water - A project once considered far-fetched — piping water from western Wyoming across the Continental Divide to Colorado's booming Front Range cities — is getting a renewed look. The $3 billion pipeline would carry water not claimed from the Green River Basin, south of Wyoming's Wind River Mountains, along Interstate 80 and Interstate 25 to high-growth cities from Fort Collins to Pueblo. >> more

The New Mexican - Bigger Rebates - Santa Fe joins a growing list of cities offering rebates on rainbarrels, cisterns and other water saving devices. Beginning January 1, 2010, Santa Fean will be able to get a $.25 per gallon for underground cisterns. Additional rebates for "Tier 3" washing machines and rain barrels will also go into effect the beginning of next year. >> more

San Diego Union Tribune - Residential 'gray water' rules eased - California regulators have opened the floodgates for using “gray water” by issuing an emergency decision that allows residents to create simple water-reuse systems without a construction permit. Roughly 1.7 million gray-water systems are installed statewide. Most are illegal because homeowners almost always avoid permits and the associated fees. Do-it-yourselfers can build a gray-water system for $200 or less, but permitting-process costs can more than double the expense.>> more

Alternet - Goodbye Pools, Lawns and a Whole Lot More: Why Life in the Southwest as We Know it Will Be History - There, in the deserts and mountains, we Americans have built huge cities, farms and ranches, and one of the world's leading tourism industries (think Vegas) predicated on the reliability of cheap, plentiful water. This was a mistake. Water in the very near future will be neither cheap nor plentiful, and much of the Southwest is destined for real trouble.>> more

Official Magazine - GREEN SUPPLEMENT BEGINNING TO TAKE ROOT - The Green TC has assembled eight task groups, enlisting the assistance of 85 plumbers, contractors, engineers, inspectors and energy and water conservation authorities, to help develop the code language of the Green Supplement, a comprehensive set of voluntary technically sound provisions that elevate sustainable construction practices while maintaining IAPMO's high standards for protecting health and safety. The new "green" code includes: rainwater harvesting, gray water, recycled/reclaimed water and onsite water treatment systems.>> more

GLI International - What is pH? - Most living things depend on a proper pH
level to sustain life. All human beings and animals rely on internal mechanisms to maintain the pH level of their blood. The blood flowing through our veins must have a pH between 7.35 and 7.45. Exceeding this range by as little as one-tenth of a pH unit could prove fatal. Proper pH control keeps milk from turning sour, makes strawberry jelly gel, and prevents shampoo from stinging your eyes. >> more

EPA - Water Use: Drop It When It's Hot! - When the mercury rises on your thermometer, so does your water use. “Peak” water use describes the time of year when residential water use is at its highest, usually in late July or early August, depending on where you live. From lawn watering to car washing to filling backyard pools to even washing beach towels more frequently—it all adds up to about four times as much water or more than you use the rest of the year! >> more

Water Efficiency Magazine - A First for Rainwater Harvesting - Due to increased interest in water conservation and sustainability, rainwater catchment is “poised to become not just an interesting side note, but also a powerful tool for water-strapped cities and states. ” Known as either rainwater catchment or harvesting, the process is quite simple and can be an easy first step for any water-strapped community searching for ways to supplement their current supplies. For example, in Los Angeles, CA, six projects capture 1.25 million gallons of water for every inch of rain, and there’s no reason those results can’t be replicated throughout the country. >> more

July 2009

Water Efficiency - Los Angeles Invites Residents and Businesses to Participate in City's New On-Site Rainwater Harvesting Program - The City of Los Angeles Department of Public Works rolls out the City’s first free Rainwater Harvesting pilot program that will provide free assistance to residents and commercial businesses willing to collect rainwater for storage and use for their private property irrigation. The program aims to reduce the polluted rainwater that goes into the ocean and help conserve the use of potable water. ing Tam, City of Los Angeles Rainwater Harvesting program manager says, “This program sets an important first step for future citywide roll-out. Our hope is that the pilot areas will begin the momentum needed to generate interest in harvesting rainwater throughout the entire community. Ultimately, the beauty of the program is that it establishes community members and the City as collaborators, both working together for a more sustainable water supply and a clean ocean.”>> more

The University of Colorado at Boulder - Future of Western Water Supply Threatened by Climate Change, Says New CU-Boulder Study - As the West warms, a drier Colorado River system could see as much as a one-in-two chance of fully depleting all of its reservoir storage by mid-century assuming current management practices continue on course, according to a new University of Colorado at Boulder study. "On average, drying caused by climate change would increase the risk of fully depleting reservoir storage by nearly ten times more than the risk we expect from population pressures alone," said Rajagopalan. "By mid-century this risk translates into a 50 percent chance in any given year of empty reservoirs, an enormous risk and huge water management challenge," he said. >> more

The Hook - Rainwater harvesting: Catchment comes with a catch - In a town where rebates are being handed out to folks who buy rain barrels, one might think a local laundromat owner’s plan to harvest rainwater off his roof would be welcomed with open arms. But according to Hydraulic Wash owner Charlie Smith, the County greeted his green plan with their arms folded. According to Smith, his laundromat– or “mat” as he shorthands it— uses a whopping quarter million gallons a month, and with County water rates going up, he figured he could save a little money while lessening the strain on local water supply. The rainwater collection system he chose, designed by Roanoke-based Rainwater Management Solutions, would provide 10,000 gallons a month, the equivalent of two households worth of water, and save him $62 a month. >>more

Ohio.com - Rain barrels turn into art - Rain barrels are good for the Earth, but they're not always easy on the eye. So a group of young artists has set out to change that. The 10 teens have been turning plain plastic barrels into works of functional art as participants in Arts LIFT, a three-week arts apprenticeship at the University of Akron that ends Wednesday. The 50 decorated rain barrels will be auctioned at two events, and any that remain will be sold online by Keep Akron Beautiful.>>more

EPA - EPA Posts State-by-State Water Quality Enforcement Reports Online - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has placed online comprehensive reports and data on water quality enforcement in all 50 states. Administrator Lisa Jackson says the move is part of a larger effort by to enhance transparency, promote the public's right to know about water quality and provide information on EPA's actions to protect water under the Clean Water Act. >>more

NPR - Water Wars Out West: Keep What You Catch! - The West remains one of the fastest growing regions of the country, and that continues to put pressure on scarce water supplies. Water law in the West is different than in the East. In the West, there's essentially a long line for water rights; those who signed up for rights first are in front. And in some cases around the West, Native Americans are near the front of the line because they've lived there for so long.>>more

June 2009

Ski Hi Daily News - New law legalizes rain catchment - Andy Miller of Fraser, Grand Huts project manager, said he was pleased CO Gov. Bill Ritter passed the legislation on April 22 — legislation that will allow the collection of rainwater for household purposes, fire protection, watering of livestock and irrigation of gardens and lawns. Previous Colorado water law made it illegal to capture rooftop precipitation. Those who plan to collect roof rainwater are expected to apply to the state. For applicants who already have a well, the “form will require minimal processing,” according to the SB 80 fiscal notes. For those who do not have a well, the state conducts a full evaluation of the applicant’s property. The Department of Natural Resources expects to process 100 rooftop precipitation collection permits annually at $28 each.>> more

Sustainable Industries - E=H2O - Everyone learns in elementary school that energy and water are essential to sustaining and fueling life. In today’s fossil fuel-dependent economy, what’s becoming more apparent is how, when it comes to industrialized systems, water is an essential component to our energy system—you can’t have one without the other. Electricity is second only to agriculture as the country’s biggest guzzler of water, with power production sucking up almost 40 percent of U.S. freshwater withdrawals. Meanwhile, moving, cleaning and storing water burns of a surprising amount of power: In California, almost 20 percent of the state’s electricity is used to heat, deliver and treat water, according to the California Energy Commission. >> more

Stormwater - Keeping the LID on Runoff - Nature has its ways of dealing with stormwater. Once humans have altered a site, however, all bets are off, especially since most of our construction materials are nonporous. Therefore, a variety of manufactured products and earth-altering tactics are used to compensate for our changing nature’s status quo. “Low-impact development [LID] is an approach to stormwater management and site design that uses natural hydrologic processes to preserve or recreate that hydrology at the site level, or to meet goals,” explains Neil Weinstein, executive director of Beltsville, MD’s Low Impact Development Center, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of LID technology. >> more

May 2009

New York Times - Water Needs Electricity Needs Water - Each day, the nation’s thermoelectric power plants (90 percent of all power plants in the United States), draw 136 billion gallons of water from lakes, rivers and oceans to cool the steam used to drive turbines, according to the Department of Energy. In recent years, the energy department says, plans for new power plants had to be scrapped because water-use permits could not be obtained. >> more

Down To Earth - Rain Shocked - Rising trend of short but intense spells of rainfall is making usable water scarce in India. If you decide to ignore the news above as freak incidents you make a mistake. They are the order now. They are happening repeatedly all over the country. Farmers do not know why. Nor do they know how to tide over the crop-destroying downpours. Scientists and meteorologists have an answer to the first question. The root cause is global warming, they argue. >> more

TNLA Green - Rainwater Harvesting Taking Texas by Storm - One of the fastest growing water conservations techniques in the country, especially Texas is the age-old practice of rainwater harvesting. Rainwater, not tap water is best for plants, due to it's neutral pH, and lack of salts and other chemicals. >> more

Shelco Filters - White Paper - A Layman’s Guide to Inorganic and Organic Contaminant - To best make filtration decisions, it is helpful to review information and updated insight on basic filtration technologies, along with their advantages and disadvantages. >> more

Water Efficiency - Facing Long-Term Drought - Communities like Raleigh, Las Vegas, Albuquerque, and Denver are all getting into the water conservation game. Approaches vary dramatically as do results. In Las Vegas, penalties for noncompliance are added to water bills, which must be paid for service to continue. Enforcement is swift and efficient—every inspection that results in a negative outcome results in a follow-up. First time offenses are $40, and then double for each reoccurring violation. “You have to enforce any ordinance you pass,” Bennett says; “your credibility is at stake.”>> more

May 18, 2009

Bord na Móna Environmental Products U.S. Inc. - Multinational company goes for rainwater in big way -Bord na Móna group, an international company involved in water treatment and other markets, says it is introducing a full line of residential and commercial rainwater harvesting products through its United States subsidiary, based in Greensboro, NC.>>more

King5 News - Major project under way beneath new Gates Foundation -The Gates Foundation dominates the blocks east of Seattle Center. But what you may never see is the monstrous structure being constructed under it. Workers are building a concrete basin for an underground reservoir capable of holding a million gallons of rainwater. >> more

May 8, 2009

Santa Fe New Mexican - New store will 'harvest water' -Two giant metal tanks have been installed at the not-yet-open Sunflower Farmers Market off Zafarano Road to capture rain runoff from the roof. The water will be used to irrigate the low water-use landscaping and trees around the 26,000-square-foot store, according to Greg Gonzales, construction manager for Branch Development. "With the large volume of water that can be collected, we figured it was a good way to water outdoor landscaping," Gonzales said. Gonzales said the city reduces the required amount of open space for a development if a water-harvesting system is included. >> more

May 7, 2009

King5 News - Major project under way beneath new Gates Foundation -The Gates Foundation dominates the blocks east of Seattle Center. But what you may never see is the monstrous structure being constructed under it. Workers are building a concrete basin for an underground reservoir capable of holding a million gallons of rainwater. >> more

May 1, 2009

Water Efficiency - 20,000 Gallon Rain Harvesting System Installed By Homeowner To Offset Drought -The California drought may appear to have softened because of the last batch of rains, but Monte Sereno resident Jerry Block isn’t having second thoughts at all about having one of the largest rain collection systems in the Santa Clara Valley recently installed in his back yard. “What if there is an earthquake and what if the drought continues?” says Jerry, “At least I will have water for my family and neighbors. Rainwater can also be used for fire suppression, irrigation, washing your car and even for keeping your swimming pool filled." Collecting this much rainwater significantly reduces stormwater runoff and erosion problems. That’s 20,000 gallons less rainwater that could get contaminated by the time it gets to a stream or an underground aquifer. With the craze of the Victory Gardens, as popularized by Michelle Obama, rainwater catchment helps assure that water will be available for growing home gardens during hot summer months." >>more

April 2009

Poisoned Waters - In Poisoned Waters, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Hedrick Smith examines the growing hazards to human health and the ecosystem. "The '70s were a lot about, 'We're the good guys; we're the environmentalists; we're going to go after the polluters,' and it's not really about that anymore," Jay Manning, director of ecology for Washington state, tells FRONTLINE. "It's about the way we all live. And unfortunately, we are all polluters. I am; you are; all of us are." >>more

Canyon Courier - Change in law will allow rainwater collection - Sen. Chris Romer and Rep. Marsha Looper were prompted to change the 120-year-old law by a study which found that 97 percent of rainfall evaporated before it reached streams and rivers. The bill awaits the signature of Gov. Bill Ritter. It would take effect July 1, and anyone who qualifies to be able to collect water will need to apply for a permit with the Colorado Division of Water Resource’s state engineer’s office.>>more

Las Vegas Sun - A murky plan for graywater - A bill that would have allowed the recycling of residential graywater — the waste water from sinks, tubs and washing machines — died in the Legislature last week. The proposal in the Legislature ran into stiff opposition from the Southern Nevada Water Authority. >>more

Water World - $260M in economic recovery investments to help California address water supply, drought - Today, at a press conference with Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and California congressional leaders, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced the Department of the Interior will invest $1 billion under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) in America's water infrastructure to create jobs and get the economy moving again.>>more

BuildingGreen - Graywater Collection and Use - Graywater is wastewater that has been used in clothes washers, showers, bathtubs, and lavatory sinks. In some parts of the country graywater may be collected using separate drainage pipes, then filtered and temporarily stored (without treatment) before being distributed in subsurface outdoor irrigation. There are also systems that direct lavatory washwater to an adjacent toilet tank to be used (after limited treatment with disinfectant) for toilet flushing. >> more

Water Efficiency Magazine - Urgent Scenarios for Region's Water Outlook - As South Florida experiences its third driest season on record dating back to 1932, a new, independent study funded by a grant from the Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties lays out four water scenarios for the area's future - all of them urgent. "Dry Wells" rank as number one among the four alarming scenarios that depict "very different futures for water resources in Palm Beach and Martin counties. >> more

April 25, 2009

The Sacramento Bee - Editorial: Water conservation bills worth backing - California is now in the third year of a drought, and the governor declared a statewide water emergency in February. It's time, once again, to push for improvements in conservation in new housing developments. Two bills are working their way through the Legislature – one sponsored by the California Building Industry Association (Assembly Bill 300 by Assemblywoman Anna Caballero) and another sponsored by the East Bay Municipal Utility District and the California Planning & Conservation League (AB 1408 by Assemblyman Paul Krekorian). Both have elements that would encourage innovative approaches to reduce water consumption in new housing developments. They call for builders to use voluntary water-saving measures (irrigation control, efficient appliances, leak detection kits, automated metering, rainwater harvesting, water recycling) or pay into a conservation fund. >> more CA Statues and Regulations

April 15, 2009

BBSRC- Changing climate will lead to devastating loss of phosphorus from soil - Crop growth, drinking water and recreational water sports could all be adversely affected if predicted changes in rainfall patterns over the coming years prove true, according to research published this month in Biology and Fertility of Soils. Scientists from Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)-funded North Wyke Research have found for the first time that the rate at which a dried soil is rewetted impacts on the amount of phosphorus lost from the soil into surface water and subsequently into the surrounding environment. >> more

April 2, 2009

LA Times - Graywater study results can't be processed fast enough - "It seems we needed to do this study three years ago," said Sybil Sharvelle, principal investigator on a graywater study that's been in the works since 2006 and won't be completed until mid-2011. "There's a huge rush right now for information, and we're just not at the point yet where we're ready to provide results." Graywater is the wastewater generated from laundry machines, showers, baths and sinks (excluding kitchen sinks). About 50% of the wastewater generated inside an average American household is graywater, which makes it an attractive option for water agencies that are looking to not only reduce consumer demand for potable water, especially in areas that are prone to drought, but the amount of wastewater those consumers are sending to the sewers for treatment.>> more

April 1, 2009

Water Online - What's In Your Water?: Disinfectants Create Toxic By-Products - Although perhaps the greatest public health achievement of the 20th century was the disinfection of water, a recent study now shows that the chemicals used to purify the water we drink and use in swimming pools react with organic material in the water yielding toxic consequences. But the process of disinfecting water with chlorine and chloramines and other types of disinfectants generates a class of compounds in the water that are called disinfection by-products. The disinfectant reacts with the organic material in the water and generates hundreds of different compounds. Some of these are toxic, some can cause birth defects, some are genotoxic, which damage DNA, and some we know are also carcinogenic . >> more

Wall Street Journal - Water Worries Shape Local Energy Decisions - Last month, Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, a utility that provides power to mostly rural areas, agreed to conduct a major study to see if it might meet growing energy needs through energy efficiency and not a big, new coal-fired power plant, as it had proposed for southeast Colorado. One reason for the move was a challenge by Environment Colorado, an advocacy organization, about the amount of water a new plant would require. The study concluded that a megawatt hour of electricity produced by a wind turbine can save 200 to 600 gallons of water compared with the amount required by a modern gas-fired power plant to make that same amount. >> more

Reuters - Key facts about water in the U.S. West - The West has been one of the United States' fastest-growing regions, with its warm, dry climate a major draw. But much of its landscape is desert or semi-arid and many of its cities are facing a long-term water supply crisis. Some of the facts: The six-county area of Southern California, including Los Angeles and San Diego, is home to nearly 22 million people, yet 60% of its water is imported; Outdoor water use, such as lawn irrigation, accounts for 40 percent of average household consumption in the city of Los Angeles.>> more

March 2009

eco-structure - Rainwater System Wins Award - Grove Farm Co. Inc., Lihue, HI which enhances its land and water resources for the 40,000 acres it owns, won a Fairfield, CT-based GE ecomagination Leadership Award for its solution that provides a sustainable water resource for as many as 15,000 residents and visitors on the Hawaiian island of Kauai'i. >> more (page 20)

Harvard Business Publishing - Growing Business Risks from Global Water Scarcity - "Water Shortage Threatens China." "California Faces Water Rationing." "Drought in Australia Food Bowl Continues." With global temperatures increasing, scientists have told us to expect water scarcity problems like those California and China are now experiencing to increase and become even more severe. The consequences for an already reeling global economy will be profound. Numerous industry sectors should expect decreased water allotments, shifts towards full-cost water pricing and ever-more stringent water quality regulations. >> more

March 31, 2009

The Altoona Mirror - Nitrate levels high in drinking water due to lack of rain - Officials urge residents not to give infants 6 months and younger drinking water until nitrate levels decrease again. High nitrate levels can come from natural, industrial or agricultural sources, including septic systems and runoff, and vary throughout the year. Drought-like conditions also aggravate the water. >> more

March 27, 2009

USGS - Water Quality of Potential Concern in US Private Wells - More than 20 percent of private domestic wells sampled nationwide contain at least one contaminant at levels of potential health concern, according to a study by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).USGS scientists sampled about 2,100 private wells in 48 states and found that the contaminants most frequently measured at concentrations of potential health concern were inorganic contaminants, including radon and arsenic. These contaminants are mostly derived from the natural geologic materials that make up the aquifers from which well water is drawn. >> more Complete findings are available online.

March 26, 2009

The Wall Street Journal - Catching Raindrops Can Make You an Outlaw -With drought widespread across the West, many cities outside Colorado are encouraging rain harvesting through tax credits, rain-barrel subsidies, even building codes that require rain-catching cisterns in new developments. The membership of the American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association -- a trade group that represents any company or individual interested in the practice -- has jumped from less than 100 to nearly 600 in just two years. But in Colorado and Utah, the only other state with a blanket ban on rain harvest, powerful forces are determined to continue limiting access to precipitation. >> more

March 23, 2009

The Washington Post - As climate changes, is water the new oil? - If water is now the kind of precious commodity that oil became in the 20th century, can delivery of clean water to those who need it be the same sort of powerful force as the environmental movement in an age of climate change? What was clear at this year's World Water Forum in Turkey was the notion that clean, fresh water supplies are waning due to a warming world. >> more

Union-Tribune - New watering source is surfacing - 'Gray' users go with flow from bathtubs, washers -Across the county, people are taking shorter showers, fixing leaky faucets and planting drought-tolerant vegetation. Faced with having lawns wither and shrubs shrivel, more people are tapping their washing machines, bathtubs and other sources of “gray water” to irrigate landscaping. “Pretty soon, it will be the exception not to do this,” said Ponizil, a contractor and building consultant. “We can't keep using water once and dumping it.” >> more

March 19, 2009

Environmental News Service - Forum Moves Water Higher Up Global Priority List -Participants from 192 countries are in Istanbul for the world's largest water event, the World Water Forum, which drew three princes, three presidents, five prime ministers, over 90 ministers, 63 mayors and more than 23,000 attendees. Conflict over scarce shared water resources is increasingly likely as the planet's population grows and freshwater resources shrink, the International Union for Conservation of Nature told Forum delegates today. >> more

LA Times - L.A. water rates revised to penalize heavy users - Warning that the city faces a water shortage this summer, Los Angeles officials approved new water rates Tuesday that will penalize residents if they don't cut their water use by 15%. Many low-income water users should not see a rise in rates, while some homeowners with large lots who don't conserve can expect a jump of $11 a month, according to the Department of Water and Power, which unanimously adopted the pricing structure. The rates would go into effect June 1 unless the City Council blocks the move. >> moreLA water rate info >> more

March 13, 2009

Library of Congress - Energy and Water Integration Act of 2009 -The Secretary of Energy, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, shall enter into an arrangement with the National Academy of Sciences under which the Academy shall conduct an in-depth analysis of the impact of energy development and production on the water resources of the United States. >> more

Pacific Institute - Integrating Water and Energy Policy -Dr. Peter Gleick, president of the Pacific Institute in Oakland, Calif., testified today before a packed hearing of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee in support of a new bill that aims to integrate the relationship between water and energy use into national policy decisions. >> more

UN - UN warns of global water crisis -With demand for water never having been as great as it was today, and energy consumption expected to jump some 60 per cent in the next few years, the extent to which current crises linked to last year’s oil, food and commodity price spikes were linked to water. The production of biofuels had also increased sharply in recent years, with significant impact on water demand. The report noted that, despite their potential to help reduce dependence on fossil energy, and given the technology currently available, biofuels were likely to place a disproportionate amount of pressure on biodiversity and the environment. >> more

Santa Fe - New 8.2% Water Rate Increase -The City of Santa City Council has adopted a new ordinance that will increase water rates by 8.2 percent each year for 5 years. Under this ordinance, the average monthly residential water bill will increase from $31.51 this year to $34.10 in 2009, $36.90 in 2010, $39.90 in 2011, etc. Commercial users with an average monthly water bill of $1,030 would see an increase to $1,114 in 2009, $1,205 in 2010, $1,304 in 2011 and so on. >> more

Superintendent - Rainwater Irrigation - With water at a premium for golf courses in areas that are facing severe droughts, superintendents and course management are looking for ways to conserve. One option is to collect and store rainwater. The concept can benefit superintendents and golf courses across the United States, especially those that rely on municipal water when the demand for H2O exceeds the supply. >> more

February, 2009

The Wall Street Journal - Yet Another 'Footprint' to Worry About: Water - It takes roughly 20 gallons of water to make a pint of beer, as much as 132 gallons of water to make a 2-liter bottle of soda, and about 500 gallons, including water used to grow, dye and process the cotton, to make a pair of Levi's stonewashed jeans. Water footprinting has gained currency among corporations seeking to protect their agricultural supply chains and factory operations from future water scarcity. Next week, representatives from about 100 companies, including Nike Inc., PepsiCo Inc., Levi Strauss & Co. and Starbucks Corp., will gather in Miami for a summit on calculating and shrinking corporate water footprints. >> more

February 20, 2009

H.R. 631 Water Use Efficiency and Conservation Research Act - Requires the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Assistant Administrator for Research and Development to establish a research and development program to promote water use efficiency and conservation, including: (1) technologies and processes that enable the collection, storage, treatment, and reuse of rainwater, stormwater, and greywater; (2) water storage and distribution systems; and (3) behavioral, social, and economic barriers to achieving greater water use efficiency.>> more

North County Times - Mobile-home park cuts annual water use by 1M-plus gallons - Residents of La Moree Estates mobile-home park are reaping the financial benefits of a year-long water conservation effort that trimmed the park's annual water use by more than 1 million gallons. The 1.4 million-gallon difference translates to a financial savings of $1,000 to $1,200 a month, he said. >> more

Aiken Standard - Water rates may go up by 700 percent - The water increase would set the base fee at $8 plus $4.50 per 1,000 gallons used, and number of water customers have said the system is ailing and hike is far too high. The rate has been the same since 1980 when the Public Service Commission of South Carolina first approved the rate.>> more

AWWA -Stimulus legislation small step forward in addressing water needs - President Barack Obama today signed into law an economic stimulus bill that provides $2 billion for drinking water projects and $4 billion for wastewater projects. >> more

February 12, 2009

Denver Post - Water bills back saving on rainy days - In Colorado's regimented water-law system, just about all the H2O is owned by a rights holder under a doctrine of "prior appropriation." Even raindrops falling on roofs belong to someone else. Preventing that water from reaching a river — and thus, its rights holder — is akin to stealing >> more

ClimateChangeCorp - "Water footprint" enters corporate vocabulary - “Carbon footprint” is now a term used by consumers and business managers alike, although five years ago nobody talked about it much. Likewise, the term "water footprint" is now gaining broad acceptance. Indirect use which is about 23 times higher than direct use, of which about 31% is embedded in industrial goods and 65% embedded in food, with the other 4% relating to drinking water and water used for domestic purposes. The sum of the direct use and the indirect use of water is the water footprint. >> more

February 9, 2009

The Journal - Water -Harpers Ferry water bill passes 1st hurdle -The Harpers Ferry Town Council unanimously passed the first reading of resolution calling for a 30 percent increase in water rates at its monthly meeting Monday night". Over the next 10 years, we'll probably have to replace every pipe in town," Water Commission Chairman and Town Councilman Bob Johnson said. "We need some place to find the money.">> more

February 9, 2009

BBC News - Water - Another global 'crisis'? - The availability of water is a concern for some countries, but the scarcity at the heart of the global water crisis is rooted in power, poverty and inequality, not in physical availability. Statistics on water consumption appear to back the UN's case. Japan and Cambodia experience about the same average rainfall - about 160cm per year. But whereas the average Japanese person can use nearly 400 litres per day, the average Cambodian must make do with about one-tenth of that. >> more

Sonoma County Water Agency - Reservoir Will Run Dry Given Current Water Use, Dry Weather - Today the agency released water storage projections that indicate both Lake Sonoma and Lake Mendocino will reach unprecedented low storage levels if rationing is not ordered and no significant amount of rain falls over the coming months.>> more

Stormwater - Stormwater Management in Arid and Drought-Prone Regions - Arid and drought-like conditions affecting different regions across the US are forcing many cities and municipalities to change the way they deal with stormwater management and water reuse. As water scarcity becomes serious, more and more water professionals are recognizing the value of rainwater and stormwater and are beginning to adopt and implement progressive strategies for catchment and retention. Tucson, AZ, in the arid Southwest, an eight-year drought has significantly drained Colorado River reservointly, manufacturers need a guideline on the use of wastewater, and a standard hasn't been established for the industry yet, Judd noted. In neighboring New Mexico, similar water-harvesting initiatives are being considered, planned, and implemented on various levels. >> more

January 29, 2009

US Water News - Green trend behind many products at builders' show - At this year's International Builders' Show, a record 363 vendors were featuring green products, more than double the number last year, said Calli Barker Schmidt, a spokeswoman for the National Association of Home Builders. One example is teh Cimarron toilet that features a plastic stopper that limits the water per flush to about 1.3 gallons - far less than standard 3.5 gallon toilets.ater needs. The next generation of water-efficient toilets are likely to incorporate the use of wastewater, suggested Shane Judd, Kohler's senior product manager. Channeling wastewater into toilets also means creating more integrated plumbing connections between bathroom fixtures. But most importantly, manufacturers need a guideline on the use of wastewater, and a standard hasn't been established for the industry yet, Judd noted. >> more

Orange County Register - Buena Park water rates will go up 20% next month - City Council voted to approve raising water rates by 20 percent next month. Several council members said they reluctantly supported the raises, and did so only because of the rising cost to import water, and to shore up the city's water system. The first 10 percent increase would make the 35.50 base rate 39.05, and the capital fund 10 percent would bring the average household bill to $42.96. >> more

January 21, 2009

The Boerne Star - Rainwater could save BISD big bucks - So far as Jeff Haberstroh knows, Champion High School's rainwater collection system is one-of-a-kind. In fact, the new school's water management engineering is too progressive for current legislation. According to law, the high school as a public building cannot use its harvested rainwater anywhere inside the buildings - for flushing its hundreds of urinals and toilets, or even to circulate within its sealed cooling system. Instead, the facility may use collected water only for irrigation, a restriction that takes advantage of only about half of what's collected within the current system. In other words, except for storage capacity and legislative restriction, the mere half-inch of rain that fell about three weeks ago could have supplied more than half of the school's annual water needs. >> more

January 13, 2009

EPA - Municipal Handbook Rainwater Harvesting Policies - This is a guide for governmental water officials that are looking to determine how to create rainwater harvesting policies. It outlines the reasons rainwater can be a solution to the water problems facing the country and highlights some of the cities and counties that have programs in place already. >> more

Stormwater Magazine -Stormwater Management in Arid and Drought Prone Regions Arid and drought-like conditions affecting different regions across the US are forcing many cities and municipalities to change the way they deal with stormwater management and water reuse. As water scarcity becomes serious, more and more water professionals are recognizing the value of rainwater and stormwater and are beginning to adopt and implement progressive strategies for catchment and retention. The article highlights actions in Tucson, AZ, Santa Fe City and County, NM and Atlanta, GA. >> more

Tampa Tribune - Officials worry about drinking water supplies - Three years of drought coupled with problems at the C.W. Bill Young Regional Reservoir has officials worried. Rainfall totals over the past three years are 28 inches below normal for the region, Felix said. That equals about half of a year’s rain.This is a guide for governmental water officials that are looking to determine how to create rainwater harvesting policies. >> more

NewScientist - Top 11 compounds in US drinking water - A comprehensive survey of the drinking water for more than 28 million Americans has detected the widespread but low-level presence of pharmaceuticals and hormonally active chemicals. Little was known about people's exposure to such compounds from drinking water, so Shane Snyder and colleagues at the Southern Nevada Water Authority in Las Vegas screened tap water from 19 US water utilities for 51 different compounds. >> more

InsideCostaRica - 40,000 Still Without Running Water - Thursday's earthquake ahs left many communities without water and electricity and the risk of an epidemic. Areas like Los Cartagos, Varablanca, Fraijanes, Colonia Toro, Cinchona, as well as many other around the Poás have yet to receive potable water. Authorities say that the areas may continue without running water for the next three weeks due to the fact that many sources of water have collapsed completely from the force of the quake. >> more

January 7, 2009

The News Tribune - Tacomans will pay higher water bills - Water rates will go up sooner rather than later for Tacoma Water customers. The Tacoma City Council moved forward Tuesday with an overall 5.4 percent increase, despite a last-minute plea for relief from Metro Parks Tacoma officials. Residential customers will see a 2.3 percent hike this year, followed by a 1.7 percent rise in 2010. The parks/irrigation class, which covers the majority of Metro Parks’ water, will go up 10.7 percent this year and 8 percent in 2010. >> more

AWE Signs Historic Memorandum of Understanding Forming a Water Efficiency Research Coalition - The Memorandum of Understanding that was signed by all parties creates a coalition, lead by the Alliance for Water Efficiency, wishing to work on specific plumbing research initiatives. Sample projects that might be undertaken include drainline carry research for high efficiency toilets, non-water-using urinals, sizing of water efficient plumbing systems, and safe applications for re-use of water. >> more